PLEASANT LIFE OF CONSTANTINOPLE 97
left to enforce them. This fact the East was gradually
realizing.
In December 1919 the French had taken over Syria
and Cilicia. The Allies were retiring gracefully out of
Anatolia, without incidents. The Greeks appeared
firmly established round Smyrna. The Nationalists were
constantly reported to be growing strong, but beyond
irregulars and guerrilla fighters they had shown little
real strength.
^For the time being Constantinople was untroubled.
The Allies had come to the city in victory. The
Christians and even the Turks had welcomed them with
joy. They came as deliverers and they came with their
pockets stuffed with good money. They spent it
liberally. They were in the " care-free" state that
characterized the early months of the Armistice. The
cafes, restaurants and dancing-halls, that had catered
for the Germans, now catered for them, and the black-
eyed Greek and Armenian girls, who had been kind to
" Fritz," were now lavish in their attentions to the
British and French soldiers. They lived as liberators,
heroes and victors among a friendly population, and they
paid their way without undue argument. Their admirers
put away carefully their fezes, which were wrapped up
in tissue paper against the future, and bought hats and
account-books in honour of the allies and as a sign that
the Turks were no more.
Life was gay and wicked and delightful. The cafes
were full of drinking and dancing. There was none of
the clogging drag of home ties. It was good to go to
the Tokatlian Hotel and hear the renowned Tzigane
H